Calendar Information

The Vaisnava Calendar (Panjika) has been made in accordance with the rules for making exact solar and lunar calculations as delineated in Hari-bhakti-vilasa by Sri Sanatana Gosvami, and as followed by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja in the various locations he visited during his manifested worldwide preaching tours.

Break Fast Times: The parana, or exact times within which to break a fast, is listed according to location. You will note that these times vary considerably. This is due to a location's latitude, longitude, and time of year.

Such times are marked by the words: Break fast times. For example, Amsterdam (06:53-10:51) informs a person in Amsterdam to break his fast between 6.53am and 10.51am

Janmastami Break Fast Times:When Sri Kṛṣṇa's birth constellation Rohinī is in effect at sunrise on the break fast day, additional times are given for breaking fast.

In the above example, a mid-day break fast time is given (after 12:22) and also the time of the end of Rohinī constellation (15:03). If Rohinï constellation ends after sunset then only an additional mid-day time is given. If Rohinī constellation is not preset at all, or if Rohinī ends before mid-day, then only one break fast time is given.

Daylight-saving time: Daylight-saving time (DST) not considered. This means that the exact break fast and eclipse times given herein do not take Daylight-saving time into account. The reader is therefore advised to add the DST difference for the local time zone (usually one hour ) when DST is in effect (during summer months). For example, 09:01 am becomes 10:01 am. When DST is not in effect, simply observe the local break fast or eclipse times as listed.

It is the desire of Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja that the calculations for the individual time zones around the world be followed.

Calculations: We are using modern geocentric calculations for tithis, sunrise calculation using the edge of the sun disc, and moving of events that fall on ksaya tithis to the next day. A ksaya tithi is a tithi that starts after sunrise and ends before next sunrise.

Difference in printed calendar: Please check the web version before major events in case any changes have been made after printing.

Calendars used in Vrindavan and Mathura Maths: The Vrindavan and Mathura Maths follow use slightly different calculations for the calendar. You may find a copy for download on the Bhagavat Patrika page under the heading of Vrat Talika.

Maha-dvadasi: There are eight special conditions when a dvadasi lunar tithi becomes a Maha-dvadasi. In such cases, fasting is done on the Maha-dvadasi and not the ekadasi. A Maha-dvadasi may be in effect for one location and not another. A regular dvadasi can also become a fast day for an ekadasi under certain conditions. Please pay attention to the fasting instructions for each location which are listed under the location name.

Eclipses: This year we have included worldwide eclipse times. Please see rules to be followed during eclipses below.

Special Festival Days: The Gaudiya Vaisnavas observe the appearance days of Visnu tattva incarnations of Lord Sri Krsna by fasting on those days (no grains): Sri Advaita Acarya, Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Sri Ramacandra, Lord Sri Nrsimhadeva, Lord Sri Balarama, Lord Sri Krsna. For the festival days of Lord Varahadeva and Lord Vamanadeva which are on a dvadasi tithi, fasting is done on the dvadasi when it becomes a maha-dvadasi, else fasting is done the day before on ekadasi.

For more details and explanations about the different festivals and appearance and disappearance days, information about the various programs and festivities in your local area and around the world, or to view transcendental art and lectures online, please visit our website: www.purebhakti.com

Rules for Observing Ekadasi Fast and Break Fast

If you have observed a complete fast (meaning, you have not even taken water on Ekadasi day) you do not need to break the fast the following day with grains. You can break it with caranamrita (Krsna's foot bathing water) or fruit at the times mentioned herein. But if on Ekadasi you took fruit, vegetables, etc. then you should break it with grains next morning at the proper times listed for paran.

Maha-dvadasi is observed like Ekadasi when listed for your location.

Ekadasi

The essence of Ekadasi is to spend as much time as possible hearing, chanting and remembering Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Therefore, on that day, it is recommended that one eat simply, only once or twice. Never eat meat, fish, eggs, onions, garlic, carrots, red lentils (masur dahl) green flat lentils, mushrooms or products thereof.

Starches from corn or grains, and products made from or mixed with these starches like baking soda, baking powder, certain soft drinks with corn syrup, custard, certain yoghurts and puddings, certain varieties of cream and cottage cheese, certain sweets and candies, and tapioca balls which often mixed with rice powder.

Eclipses are considered inauspicious. To counteract inauspicious effects and to create auspiciousness, during an eclipse one avoids sleeping, eating, drinking, bathing or using the bathroom. It is recommended to stay indoors, not to look at the eclipse, and constantly chant Harinama.

Eclipses will be listed for your location. It is possible that an eclipse may not be visible, or it may be only partially visible from your location. To check eclipse visibility maps, see the Nasa Eclipse website at eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov. If an eclipse is not visible in your location, it is not necessary to observe it. However, it is still considered an inauspicious time. Although you may find eclipse viewing instructions at the above website, Gaudiya Vaisnavas do not recommend viewing eclipses.

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